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Who do you think it is or know it is? I once read a report that Kristen Chenoweth has a $30 million dollar net worth.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by best12bars 2012-12-31 10:34:25

Do you think she earned all of that from Broadway shows?

I don't think you can really say "who is the richest," since many stars work in film and TV as well ... where the bigger money is.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by henrikegerman 2012-12-31 10:38:09

Jackman? Broderick? Washington?

Richest Broadway StarPosted by Jon 2012-12-31 10:50:42

Of people who appeared on Broadway over the past couple of years, the richest is probably Kelsey Grammer. He earned a million dolalrs a week during the last few seasons of Frasier.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by Will42 2012-12-31 10:55:40

During Murder, She Wrote run was Angela Lansbury was the highest paid actress in the world. She also served as the show executive producer from 1992 to 1996. I imagine she is also doing quite well when she's in a Broadway show.

So we are really talking about Hollywood stars with 10+million dollar movie contracts who occasionally deign to appear on Broadway?

Richest Broadway StarPosted by broadwaydevil 2012-12-31 16:07:20

If you're looking for the richest, yes.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by Brave Sir Robin2 2012-12-31 16:19:54

In terms of non-Hollywood actors/actresses, I think Patti or Bernadette are doing well. Mandy Patinkin and Kristin Chenoweth have crossed over a lot. Lea Salonga and Idina probably do well considering all of the concerts they do internationally.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by mikem 2012-12-31 16:20:21

Unless she has made some good investments, I'm not sure that Kristin Chenoweth is worth $30 million (although I'm sure she's not hurting). Has she been in a project that would have given her a huge payday?

A slightly different question -- which Broadway actor got the most money from a single production? Most of the huge weekly pays you hear about are for relatively short runs.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by dramamama611 2012-12-31 16:34:05

I think you have to qualify what that title means: ANY actor that has appeared on b'way? Only earnings from B'way? The single highest contract?

Then, how do you determine "star"?

Richest Broadway StarPosted by broadwaybabytn 2012-12-31 16:35:08

$30 million is a lot, but it's by no means unbelievable for Kristen.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by bobs3 2012-12-31 16:40:48

Bernadette Peters is very wealthy, mostly from concert appearances plus the money she inherited from her late husband (who was a wealthy hedge fund manager).

Richest Broadway StarPosted by lupone76 2012-12-31 16:57:00

I'm sure Harvey Fierstein must be pretty wealthy due to his book writing projects. Especially for La Cage, Torch Song and Newsies. Nathan Lane must be pretty well fixed and he was at one time both an equal star of Broadway and Hollywood. He's the only true Broadway star who also had many hit films as well to his credit.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by mc1227 2012-12-31 17:20:51

Lupone, I'm not sure what hit films of Nathan Lane's you're referring to. I count one, "The Birdcage". I don't think you can count "Lion King" since Disney is notoriously cheap and I doubt the voice actors got substanial royalties from that movie. They probably got a 3 picture deal instead. Harvey Fierstein is probably well off due to "LaCage" and "Hairspray", not so much Torch Song.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by Jonwo 2012-12-31 17:32:12

Nathan Lane was probably paid very well when it was called to do The Producers return engagement in 2003 and then he stepped in to replace Richard Dreyfuss in London.

Does book writing get significant royalties in comparison to writing the libretto? I saw a documentary and Stephen Fry who rewrote the book for Me and My Girl said the checks he got per week from it were eyewatering.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by bobs3 2012-12-31 17:38:54

Charles Strouse taught a workshop at NYU's Music Theatre program and one of the students asked him if it was true he made $25 million from ANNIE. Strouse rolled his eyes, laughed and replied "You are not even close."

Richest Broadway StarPosted by kidbroadway2 2012-12-31 18:14:15

Donald Trump played 1 performance in One Man, Two Guvnors so I believe he is the richest Broadway Star ever.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by best12bars 2012-12-31 18:15:16

"I'm the richest staaahh, I am by faaaahhhh ... but no one knows it."

Richest Broadway StarPosted by Joviedamian 2013-01-01 14:58:23

"Charles Strouse taught a workshop at NYU's Music Theatre program and one of the students asked him if it was true he made $25 million from ANNIE. Strouse rolled his eyes, laughed and replied "You are not even close.""

Does that mean less or more? I have to assume more, right?

Richest Broadway StarPosted by singtopher 2013-01-01 15:20:32

I remember reading (in the times, if I'm not mistaken) that Winnie holzman and Stephen Schwartz stand to make around $90 million from Wicked.

Imagine how much Cameron Mackintosh is worth

Richest Broadway StarPosted by SondheimFan5 2013-01-01 15:24:34

Mackintosh, though not a "Broadway star," owns 40% of Les Mis. I don't know how much of his other projects he owns. Similar situation for people like Lloyd Webber who not only compose but also produce.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by Jonwo 2013-01-01 15:35:04

Cameron Mackintosh has made a fortune from his shows, I do wonder what he gets royalty wise from Mary Poppins, it must be a hefty sum especially as it continue to run on Broadway and on tour. I imagine with Les Mis, he'll make a significant amount of money from the film and that's alongside the money still earned from the stage production.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by TheGingerBreadMan 2013-01-01 17:16:31

I'm sure Mackintosh is making a killing from Les Mis. With the new movie, and seeing as though Les Mis is in its 27th year in the West End, he is making a ton. Poppins is probably bringing in some decent sized checks as well.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by roadmixer 2013-01-02 12:04:09

Mackintosh was supposedly worth $1.1 Billion as of April 2012 so after the film pays him all of his money he will be hard to beat even for any of the A-Listers that people have mentioned.

I saw somewhere an article about how much money all the creatives from Wicked have made.

Schwartz must be up there (not only with Wicked, but the rights from Pippin, Godspell and Bakers Wife must rake it in - and the Disney stuff, too).

Apparently, Idina Menzel is on royalties for Wicked too - as she officially originated the role.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by sabrelady 2013-01-02 13:37:56

Remember this is NET worth- not cash. So real estate and other holdings factor in there. And that also doesn't take into acct liabilities such as taxes and mortgages.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by best12bars 2013-01-02 14:29:57

According to your link, Streisand is worth $340 million.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by mc1227 2013-01-03 07:04:09

I'm not sure how anyone can estimate someone's net worth. Many celebrities have real estate and business holdings that are not traced to them. You can guess at earnings but after payout of manager/agents fees and without knowing what their contracts specify, it's really impossible to know. All I can say is they are all doing better than I am. :)

Richest Broadway StarPosted by Greekmusicalfan 2013-01-03 08:57:28

So, if we include everyone that appeared on Broadway in recent years, am I the only one, who thinks that Daniel Radcliffe, is probably also very close to the top of the list ?

Richest Broadway StarPosted by best12bars 2013-01-03 09:05:35

It says Radcliffe's net worth is $80 million, but he has an annual income (probably percentages from films and merchandise) of $25 million.

Ricky Martin is listed as being worth $60 million.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by Jonwo 2013-01-03 10:25:32

Wicked must pay great royalties to its producers, I imagine the royalties and profits paid to producers of hit shows are a lot smaller than they were in the past when it was just one or two producers producing a show.

Richest Broadway StarPosted by Will42 2013-01-03 10:57:03

Not sure how exactly trust-worthy that source. It says that Debbie Reynolds net worth is $85 million, when in reality she was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1997 and her large collection of film memorabilia was valued at $10.79 million in the bankruptcy filing.